After the German High Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte) was scuttled at Scapa Flow in 1918, the German navy had become almost non-existent. It was slowly expanded in the interwar era, with limitations and restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
The limitations was:

• 6 old pre-dreadnoughts battleships
  
• 6 light cruisers
  
• 12 destroyers
  
• 12 torpedo-boats
  
• Forbidden to build submarines

However, in 1935 the Anglo-German Naval Agreement was signed between (you guessed it) Britain and Germany. Officially allowing the Germans to (continue) to violate the Treaty of Versailles. It also allowed Germany to again build submarines (which they had done through shell companies in Sweden and the Netherlands.)

It was not until 1938 and 1939 with the implementation of "Plan X" and later the more famous "Plan Z" to rebuild the Kriegsmarine, that the naval rebuilding took shape.
Plan Z, which was revised several times, was to be completed by 1948 but the declaration of war in September 1939 strangled the Kriegsmarine`s lack of raw material for ship construction. Overall, Plan Z was deemed as an ambitious and virtually impossible plan to finish; war or not.

The names of the modules as they appear in-game is used throughout this guide. Check this for reference.

The German Admiralty recognised that it would never be able to go 1:1 against the totality of the British Royal Navy.
Thus the admiralty concocted a plan to tie up large parts of the British fleet with convoy escort while the battleships strived for a decisive battle with the remainder of the British Home Fleet.
The decisive battle was a major concept among all the major navies of the world; the decisive battle was one large engagement, meant to decide the entire naval war in one engagement. The concept was derided from the battle of Jutland in 1916; the largest battleship engagement in history.
Luckily for the German planners, the British was spread thin with the burden of protecting the whole of the British Empire that spanned the entire globe. At the same time: economic restrictions and anti-war sentiment at home - coupled with the colossal losses in ships suffered during the Great War - had made the British Royal Navy realising it was incapable to defend the realm against the combined might of Italy, Japan and a resurgent German High Seas Fleet.


To complete the ardous task of rebuilding a navy, the German naval command visioned the construction of large - and fast - capital ships.
New and modern battleships and larger cruisers was tasked with fighting of hostile capital ships together with squadrons of torpedo-boats.

Larger seafaring destroyers with larger guns; the "Zerstörer"-line, was tasked to scout and escort the larger pocket-battleships and O-class battlecruisers in trade-interdiction warfare.

The Submarines, or "Uboot-flotilla", was to join the pocket-battleships and the zerstörers to hunt down enemy shipping in Wolfpack-operations.

Due to rivalry between the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine, the naval air-arm was severely lacking both before and during the war. But the Germans also recognized the importance of Naval aviation to support commerce raiding. However; the Aircraft carriers was an odd combination of carrier and cruiser, with a heavy emphasis on guns. The optional carriers are light carriers converted from merchantmen (a heavy cruiser) to boost german naval aviation but are not part of the Z-Plan

Planned: 1
Completed: 0

Converted Cruiser Hull

• Hangar Space
  
• [Carrier Slot]
  
• [Anti-Air Slot]
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• ?
  
• [Secondary Slot]

Planned: 2*
Completed: 0

1936 Carrier Hull

• Hangar Space
  
• Hangar Space
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• 8x 10,5 cm SK/33
  
• [Radar slot]
  
• Brown-Boweri 165,000hp
  
• 15cm/55 Drh. L. C/34
  //
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

Planned: 2
Completed: 0
More planes than GZ..

1940 Carier Hull

• Hangar Space
  
• Hangar Space
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• 8x 10,5 cm SK/33
  
• [Radar slot]
  
• Brown-Boweri 165,000hp
  
• 15cm/55 Drh. L. C/34
  //
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

Planned: 0
Constructed: 1
(converion of the unfinished Admiral Hipper class heavy cruiser "Seydlitz".
Aircraft outfit consisted of 10 fighters and 10 CAS.

Converted cruiser hull

• Hangar Space
  
• [Carrier Slot]
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• Blohm & Voss 132,000hp*
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

Planned: 1
Completed: 0
SMS Ausonia

Converted cruiser hull

• Hangar Space
  
• Hangar Space
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• Germania 72,400hp (Cruiser Engine III)
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

Planned: 2
Completed: 0
SMS Gneisenau & SMS Elbe
Aircraft outfit of 10 fighter and 10 CAS.

Converted Cruiser Hull

• Hangar Space
  
• [Carrier Slot]
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• Deschimag 50,000hp
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

Planned: 1
Completed: 0
Conversion of the captured French cruiser De Grasse.
The regular outfit of 10 fighters and 10 CAS.

Converted cruiser hull

• Hangar Space
  
• [Carrier Slot]
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• MAN Diesels 56,800hp
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33

The German Battleships was suposed to be the bread and butter of the German Kriegsmarine. The Naval High Command envisioned 12 Battleships necessary to contend with the stretched Royal and French Navies. At the start of the game, 2 of the 12 Battleships were under construction: The Scharnhorst class. Different from the rest of the Battleship escadre, the Scharnhorst & Gneisenau was built as a fast commerce raider and could to some extent be catogorised as battlecruisers.

Constructed: 5
Remaining: 2

Pre-Dreadnought Hull




Planned: 2
Completed: 2

• Bismarck
  
• Tirpitz

1936 Heavy Hull

Planned: 2
Completed: 2
Scharnhorst & Gneisenau
Scharnhorst was refitted with 38 cm cannons.

1936 Heavy Hull

• 28 cm SK C/34
  
• 3,7 mm SK C/28
  
• Central Rangefinding
  
• FuMO 22
  
• Blohm & Voss 138,000hp
  
• 15cm/45 SK L/45
  
• 200mm Belt/35mm Deck
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/30
  
• [Mid 1 Slot]
  
• 15cm/45 SK L/45
  
• 28 cm SK C/34

Planned: 3
Completed: 0
The O-Class was, as the Scharnhorst class, a commerce raider by design; It could outrun battleships that outgun it and more was fast enough to catch up with cruiser that it outgunned.
The revised Z-Plan of 1940 envisioned three O-Class battlecruisers in combination with 8 the planned Panzerschiffe P and the three older Deutschland-class.

1940-Heavy Hull

• 38cm/52 SK C/34
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Mechanical Rangekeeper
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• Deschimag 160,100hp
  
• 15cm/55 Drh. L. C/34
  
• 200mm Belt /35 mm Deck
  //
  
• 38cm/52 SK C/34
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• Improved Floatplane
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33
  
• 38cm/52 SK C/34

The Panzerschiffe was designed as the primary surface raiders. With battleship-sized main battery guns and large secondary guns it could brawl most other heavy cruisers and even older battleships. The Kreuzer-P class was first intended to have 12 ships but was reduced to 8 when the O-class was ordered instead.

Planned: 3
Completed: 3

Panzerschiff Hull

• 6x 28 cm SK C/28
  
• 2cm/65 C/30
  
• Rangefinder
  
• [Radar]
  
• Schichau 65,000hp
  
• 8x 15 cm SK C/28 secondary guns
  
• 15cm/45 SK L/45
  
• 80 mm belt / 45 mm deck armour
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/30
  
• Floatplane Catapult
  
• [None]
  
• 3 x 500mm TTs

Planned: 2
Constructed: 0

Panzerschiff Hull
28cm/40 SK L/40

15cm/55 Drh L. C/34
80mm Belt /50mm Deck


Planned: 8
Completed:

Panzerschiff Hull

• 28cm/54.5 SK C/34
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Type 1935 (C.35)
  
• [Radar]
  
• Germania 72,500hp
  
• 15cm/55 Drh L. C/34
  
• 100mm Belt/88mm Deck
  //
  
• [NONE]
  
• ImprovedFloatplane Catapult
  
• 10.5cm/65 SK C/33
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs

The heavy cruisers was designed to be a part of the battlegroup, and a key component in the decisive battle.
The German heavy cruisers were exceptionally few in number; with only 3 of the 5 ships in the "Admiral Hipper"-Class completed.

Planned: 5
Completed: 3

1936 Cruiser Hull

The german light cruisers was intended as the scout-force of the Commerce raiding fleet. The light-cruisers was often larger than its foreign contemporaries.

Planned: 1
Completed: 1

Early Cruiser Hull



Planned: 3
Completed: 3

1936 Cruiser Hull



Planned: 2
Completed: 2

1936 Light Cruiser Hull



Planned: 4
Completed: 0

1936 Cruiser Hull

• 15cm/55 SK C/28
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Range-finder
  
• Radar
  
• Germania 72,400hp
  
• 8.8cm/45 Flak L/45
  
• 51 mm Belt / 25 mm Deck armour
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• Floatplane Catapult
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 15cm/55 SK C/28
  
• Minelaying Rails

Planned: 2
Completed: 0
Increased AA and better range finder, else just the same as M-class

1940 Cruiser Hull

• 15cm/55 SK C/28
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43^
  
• Range-finder^
  
• Radar
  
• Germania 72,400hp
  
• 8.8cm/45 Flak L/45
  
• 51 mm Belt / 25 mm Deck armour
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• Floatplane Catapult
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 15cm/55 SK C/28
  
• Minelaying Rails

The Spähkreuzer, or Scout-Cruiser was the german Battlegroups scout compartment.
It was designed to be light and fast. It was supposed to scout ahead, and flee from almost any danger, as it was to weak to combat both light cruisers and even some larger destroyers.
Of the 22 ships envisioned by the Z-plan, only 6 were ordered.
The Spähkreuzer had several designes, the S38, the S39 and S40.

Note: In reality the Spähkreuzers was very small for cruisers, more to the size of a destroyer. But I have chosen to model them as Cruisers.

Planned: 6

1936 Light Cruiser Hull

• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Range-finder
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• 46.800 shp
  
• 3x 8.8 cm SK C/38 AA
  
• [No armor]
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36

Planned: ?

1936 Light Cruiser Hull

• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Range-finder
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• 46.800 shp
  
• 3x 8.8 cm SK C/38 AA
  
• [No armor]
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• [Empty Slot]
  
• Improved Floatplane Catapult
  
• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36

Planned: ?

1940 Light Cruiser Hull

• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Range-finder
  
• [Radar Slot]
  
• 46.800 shp
  
• 3x 8.8 cm SK C/38 AA
  
• [No armor]
  //
  
• 2cm/65 C/38 Flak 35
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• [?]
  
• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36

produced: 4
owned: 4

1936 Light Hull


Planned: 12
Completed: 12

1936 Destroyer Hull



Planned: 6
Produced: 6

1936 Light Ship Hull

• 12.7cm/45 SK C/34
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Central Rangefinding
  
• Atlas-Werke GHG
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Deschimag 70,000hp
  //
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Depth Charge Rails

Planned: 15
Completed: 15

1936 Light Ship Hull

• 15cm/48 Tbts KC/36
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• GHG / S-Gerät
  
• FuMO 21
  
• Deschimag 70,000hp
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  //
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Rheinmetall DC Thrower
  

Planned: 8
Completed: 3

1936 Ligh Ship Hull

• 12.7cm/45 SK C/34
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• S-Gerät
  
• FuMO 22
  
• Deschimag 70,000hp
  
• 4x 533mm TTs
  //
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Rheimmetall DC Thrower

Planned: 5
Completed: 0

1936 Light Ship Hull

• 12.7cm/45 SK C/41 DP
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Advanced fire control
  
• S-Gerät Sonar
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• 70.000 shp
  //
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Depth Charge Rails

Planned:
Completed: 1

1940 Light Ship Hull

• 12.7cm/45 SK C/41 DP
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• S-Gerät Sonar
  
• FuMO 27
  
• 4 x 533mm w/Comp. Air
  
• Impr. Desch. 70,000hp
  //
  
• 12.7cm/45 SK C/41 DP
  
• 4 x 533mm w/Comp. Air
  
• Minelaying Rails

Planned Type 23: 6
Planned Type 24: 6
Total 12

Early Destroyer Hull

• 10.5cm/55 SK C/28 12.7cm/45 SK C/34
  
• NONE 2cm/65 C/30
  
• Central Rangefinder
  
• NONE
  
• Triple 500mm TTs 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Vulvan 23,000hp
  //
  
• Triple 500mm TTs 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Mine-Rails

Planned: 12
Completed: 12
1936 Destroyer Hull

• 10.5cm/55 SK C/28
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Central Fire Control
  
• [NONE]
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Vulcan 23,000hp
  //
  
• Depth Charge Rails
  
• Minelaying Rails

Planned: 9
Completed: 9
1936 Destroyer Hull

• 10.5cm/55 SK C/28
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• Central Fire Control
  
• [NONE]
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Vulcan 23,000hp
  //
  
• Depth Charge Rails
  
• Minelaying Rails

After the unsuccessful Torpedoboot 1935 and Torpedoboot 1937 a radical change in German torpedo boat design took place. Unlike their predecessors which were focused on Torpedo attacks, the new class of Fleet torpedo boats were multi purpose ships, usable for torpedo attacks, anti aircraft defense and escort duty.

Those ships were more a light destroyer than the classical torpedo boat and the last torpedo boats built in Germany. Since they got the engines of already ordered but later canceled ships of the Torpedoboot 1937 class, they were about 1,5 kn slower than those ships, but they were the best seagoing ships of their kind in the Kriegsmarine.









Planned: 39
Completed: 15

1940 Destroyer Hull

• 10.5cm/55 SK C/28 (DP)
  
• 3.7cm/57 Flak M43
  
• S-gerät Sonar
  
• FuMO 21 Radar
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Deschimag 70,000hp
  //
  
• 4 x 533mm TTs
  
• Minelaying Rails

Planned: 24
Completed: 0

1940 Destroyer Hull
12.7cm/45 SK C/41 DP
3.7cm/57 Flak M43
S-gerät Sonar
FuMO 21 Radar
4 x 533 w/Comp. Air
Deschimag 70,000hp
//
4 x 533mm w/Comp. Air
Depth charge launchers
mine-rails
2 cm SK C/38 AA-guns

Planned: 15
Completed: 0

1940 light hull
10.5cm/55 SK C/28 (DP)
3.7cm/57 Flak M43
S-gerät Sonar
FuMO 21 Radar
40,000 shp
2 x triple 533mm torpedo tubes
Depth charge launcchers

Planned: 6-9
Completed: 0

1944 light hull
4x 10,5 cm KM44 Dual Purpose guns
3.7cm/57 Flak M43
Range-finder x
FuMO 21 Radar
52.000 shp
2 x triple 533mm torpedo tubes
Mine-rails
Depth charge launchers

MBoot 1935: 69
Destroyer hull 1936
10,5 cm
3,7 cm AA
3500 shp
mine-seeking
depth-launchers
50 mines

MBoot 1940: 131
Destroyer hull 1922
10,5 cm
3,7 cm AA
2615 shp
depth charge launcher
anti-mine
50 mines

Together with the surface fleet, the U-boat arm of the Kriegsmarine was supposed to raid merchant shipping and to spread out the hostile navy so that the Battlefleet would have numerical superiority in a decisive battle.

Planned: 50
Completed: 50

1922 submarine hull

• 4 x 533mm Torp. Tubes
  
• MWM Diesels 700hp
  //
  
• [Empty Slot]

Planned: 34
Completed: 34

1936 submarine-hul

• 6 x 533mm Torp. Tubes
  
• MWM 700hp
  
• //
  
• [Empty Slot]

Planned: 568
Completed: 568

1940 Submarine Hull

• 6x 533mm Torp. Tubes
  
• MAN Diesels 2100hp
  //
  
• [Empty Slot]
  
• FuMO-Radar
  
• [Empty Slot]

Planned: 6
Completed: 6

1940 submarine-hull
6 x 533mm Torp. Tubes
MAN Diesels 2100hp
//
Minelaying tubes
Snorkel I
[Empty Slot]


Planned: 290
Completed: 194

Cruiser submarine hull


Type XXI "Elektroboot" Class
Plannet:1120...
Constructed: 118

1944 Submarine Hull

• 6x 533mm w/P.Loading
  
• SSW Electric 4,626hp
  //
  
• [Empty Slot]
  
• Improved Schnorchel
  
• [Empty Slot]

This great video by Drachinifel provided me with the resources to produce this gude.

The Allies:

• The Royal Navy: A historical guide to naval construction 1936-45
  
• Marine Nationale: French Naval building 1936-45
  
• US Navy - A Two Ocean Navy: A Guide to naval construction 1936-45

Axis:

• Die Kriegsmarine & Der Z-Plan: A guide to historical naval construction 1936-45
  
• The Regina Marina: A guide to historical naval construction 1936-1945
  
• The Imperial Japanese Navy: A guide to historical naval construction 1936-1945

Comintern:
Stalin´s Oceangoing Navy: A Guide to historical naval construction 1936-45


The Allies:

• United Kingdom Historical Tank Guide
  
• United States Historical Tank Guide

The Axis

• German Historical Tank Guide by @Alice
  
• Italian guide to historical tanks by @Alice

The Cominterns

• Soviet Historical Tank Guide by @Alice

Historical Germany Plane Designs by @FEARTHEFUNNYMAN